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GUESSING 


AT 


HEROES. 




BY 

Miss S. O’H. DICKSON, 

n 7 

Author of “ Howard McPhlinn “ The Story of Mar thy,” “ The 
Grangers etc. 



RICHMOND, VA.: 

THE PeESBYTEEIAN COMMITTEE OF PUBLICATION. 



L Jb ra ry of <rv. 

/ Coii graf% 

0 ff,C «Ofth« 

D£C l 6 1899 

Reg ' S,er •' CopyMgHJ*, 


49843 



Copyright 

by 

JAMES K. HAZEN, Secretary of Publication , 
1899. 


Printed by 

Whittet & Shepperson, 
Richmond, Ya. 


SfcCOND COPY, 


A U>'<3<3 , 


DEDICATED 


TO 

MY SUNDAY-SCHOOL CLASS. 



























• . 





























CONTENTS. 


PART I. 

CHAPTER I. 

Grandma’s New Game, .... 

PAGE.. 

7 

Hugh’s Hero, 

CHAPTER II. 

13 

Will’s Hero, 

CHAPTER III. 

19 

Nellie’s Hero, 

CHAPTER IY. 

27 

Artie’s Hero, 

CHAPTER Y. 

33 

Jack’s Hero, 

CHAPTER YI. 

39 

CHAPTER VII. 

Grandma’s Sunday Hero, 

45 

CHAPTER VIII. 

“ Good-bye, Grandma,” . 

56 


6 


Contents. 


PART II. 

CHAPTER I. page. 

Bible Heroes This Time, .... 66 

CHAPTER II. 

Will’s Hero, 72 

CHAPTER III. 

Hugh’s Hero, 79 

CHAPTER IV. 

Artie’s Hero, 85 

CHAPTER V. 

Jack’s Hero and Nita’s, . . . 91 

CHAPTER VI. 

Grandma’s Hero, . . . . . . 97 

CHAPTER VII. 

Papa’s Hero, 104 


Guessing at Heeoes. 


CHAPTER I. 

Grandma's New Game. 

“ /^\H ! BOYS, I have a new game for you,” 
Grandma said. 

Down went the gouhers that the hoys were 
parching on Grandma’s hearth and they seated 
themselves “tailor fashion” at her feet, or rather 
Hugh and Jack did, Artie, who was youngest, 
climbed to what Grandma called “the chief seat 
in the synagogue,” and sat cuddled close against 
her loving heart. 

It was a stormy night outside, hut everything 
was cheery in Grandma Bright’s room. 

“What’s it, Grandma ? Oh ! what’s it ?” cried 
the impatient hoys, and “Yek, vat’s it ?” asked 
Artie, who the big boys called the “echo.” 


8 Guessing at Heroes . 

“Why, here it is. I thought it out last night 
after I went to bed.” 

“O Gramma !” The boys laughed at the idea 
of any body wasting sleeping time thinking up 
new games. 

“Here’s the game now. Each of you must 
think of some hero. He must be an American, 
and we must describe him, or mention some 
brave act, or some incident of his life, and then 
the rest must guess who he is. Of course we 
must try to puzzle each other, and the one who 
guesses most of the heroes will have — ” 

“Chocolate caramels !” cried Artie, clapping 
his hands, and the others clapped, too, and all 
laughed, while Grandma said, 

“Well, chocolate caramels it must be then, 
I suppose, even if Artie does not get the 
prize.” 

Artie suddenly fell into a brown study at this 
suggestion. 

“Gramma, w’ats a hewo?” he asked very 


Guessing at Heroes. 9 

earnestly. This little man was ambitious, but 
he had not yet conquered his RRs. 

The hoys laughed at him, but Grandma shook 
her head, and said, “I believe I’ll ask Hugh to 
tell us.” 

How Hugh had been familiar with the word 
for some years, for he was twelve years old, but 
when it came to say just what it meant — why, he 
was sorry that he had laughed! Jack said, “I 
know, ’course I do. It’s somebody that does 
some thin’ awful good or brave and eve’y body 
knows it.” 

While Jack’s definition would hardly have 
suited for a dictionary, Grandma thought it was 
not so bad, and it was certainly more satisfac- 
tory to Artie than Mr. Webster’s would have been. 

“How let’s begin, boys !” 

“You begin, Gramma, please !” the children 
said. 

Willie and Hellie Barker, their next door 
neighbors, had come in while Grandma was talk- 


10 Guessing at Heroes. 

ing and they begged, too, and Grandma thought 
it would probably be the best way to start them. 

“Well, my hero was not a North Carolinian, 
but a neighbor of Carolina. He was a good boy, 
obedient to bis mother, and fond and faithful to 
her all her life. He was not very smart at school, 
but was faithful and painstaking in everything 
he did. Some of his copy hooks can be seen now 
put away as relics of a great man, and they 
show how careful he was to do little things 
well. 

“He was not as lively, probably, as some boys 
that I know, but he could enjoy funny things, 
for we read of his rolling over on the ground in 
his amusement at something that seemed very 
funny to him. 

“When he was sixteen he had learned survey- 
ing so well that he was employed and paid for 
his work. 

“He loved to fish and to hunt, and was a fine 
rider and loved his horses. 


11 


Guessing at Heroes. 

“He lived the life of a quiet country gentle- 
man; but when bis country needed bis services 
he went to war and won great victories, and then 
bad great honors bestowed on him ; and now we 
love to celebrate his birthday, and have given 
him a name that shows his - character. 

“How! put on your guessing caps.” 

Hugh was looking thoughtfully into the fire. 
Hellie w r as in a fidget, because she “almost 
knew.” 

Artie was watching to see who would get the 
“chocolate caramels.” 

Jack said, “I bet he was a Virginian, I b’lieve 
it must be J ackson. Oh ! do, Gramma, tell a 
little plainer.” 

“Ho, no — I want you to think, and to take 
trouble to find out.” 

Just then the supper bell rang, and as Grand- 
ma was “very polite to the bells”, as she ex- 
pressed it, they all started off. 

“Hever mind, to-morrow we will know.” 


12 Guessing at Heroes. 

“Yek, an’ get some calomels,” cried Artie — still 
having sweet thoughts of rewards. 

“Somebody else must have a hero for us to 
guess next time, boys.” 

“All right,” they answered, as they did to 
everything Grandma said. 


CHAPTER II. 


Hugh's Hero. 

rp HE next evening the children were 
promptly on hand in Grandma’s room, 
and before they were all seated Hugh exclaimed, 

“Grandma, I’ve guessed ! I know. Of course 
it was George Washington. Don’t we celebrate 
his birthday every year, and call him The E ather 
of His Country V ” 

“You are right,” answered Grandma. “And 
now who else guessed the same ?” 

Hellie said she was almost sure, hut poor lit- 
tle Hellie nearly always got behind in guessing, 
because she was so afraid of not being right ! 

“How, Hugh, let us have your hero; for the 
one who makes the correct answer must he the 
one to give the next hero.” 

Hugh was quite excited about beginning. 


14 Guessing at Heroes. 

“Gramma, it was pretty hard work choosing 
my hero, because I have more than one, hut I 
think I know now who was the greatest hero I 
have ever heard of. But must we always tell 
about when they were children V 9 

“Oh! no, just tell some brave deed or some 
incidents in the life of the man that you think 
gave him the right to the name ‘hero/ and then, 
if anybody thinks he has guessed it, let him 
mention some incident he knows — holding up 
his hand to show that he has guessed.” 

“Well,” said Hugh, “my hero was a soldier, 
and fought in two wars ; and he was so brave, 
and knew how to manage a battle so well, they 
just kept promoting him until he got to he a 
Major General. I think the bravest thing he did 
was once when he wanted to see where the enemy 
was, he and one of his aides went out in a field, 
and one of the enemy’s sharpshooters raised his 
gun and shot, and the hall went whizzing right 
between their heads, and he smiled and said to 


Guessing at Heroes. 15 

his aide, ‘Hadn’t you better go to the rear, they 
may shoot you V He didn’t seem to know what 
fear was.” 

Grandma held up her hand and then said, 

“Yes, and he was modest about his great suc- 
cesses, too. One of the grandest things he ever 
did was just after he had won a great battle. He 
wrote a letter to a friend at home, and as every- 
body was anxious to hear from the battle, peo- 
ple gathered around his friend at the post-office 
and asked for the news. When the letter was 
opened, instead of telling of the victory, he only 
wrote that after he had gone to bed the night 
before he had remembered that he had forgotten 
to send his contribution for a colored Sunday- 
school in which he had taught when at home, 
and he enclosed it and apologized for his neglect ! 
And this just after a battle which had won him 
the admiration of the world !” 

“Why, Gramma, have you guessed already ?” 
said Hugh. 


16 Guessing at Heroes. 

“Well, you see, I happen to admire and love 
your hero, and have read a great deal about him ; 
hut I will not give his name. Jack, are 
you guessing ? and what about Willie and 
Nellie ?” 

“I’m getting it, Gramma,” said Jack, just as 
if it was a sum in arithmetic that he was work- 
ing. 

Everybody laughed. 

“Gramma, can we ask Hugh a question V 9 

“Yes, hut only one; and now, how is Willie 
getting on, and Nellie V 9 

“Oh!” said Nellie, “I b’lieve it’s my hero. 
My hero was a soldier, hut I don’t know if he 
fought in two wars. Did your hero teach after 
the war was over ?” 

“No!” said Hugh quickly, as if he was re- 
lieved. “My hero was” — 

Here he stopped. 

“Let me ask my question now, Gramma,” 
said Jack. 


Guessing at Heroes. 17 

“Very well, and then we will hear from 

Will.” 

“Hugh, did your hero wear a shabby old cap, 
most always V’ asked Jack eagerly. 

How the others all laughed ! And Hugh, who 
did not seem to want people to guess his hero, 
replied rather reluctantly, 

“Yes, hut I reckon plenty of soldiers had to 
do that!” 

Artie, by this time, was getting excited, for, 
as he could not do any of the guessing, he wanted 
Grandma to guess right, for he knew that he 
would get all the “calomels” he wanted if she 
gained the prize. 

Willie, who had been busy thinking while the 
others talked, said at last, 

“Didn’t your hero get a name because of his 
bravery that he is better known by than by his 
real name ?” 

Hugh looked uneasily towards Grandma 
without replying. 


18 Guessing at Heroes. 

Just then ting-a-ling! went supper bell, and, 
as everybody rose to go, Grandma said, “Sup- 
pose you come back after supper and finish up 
Hugh’s hero, and then I’ll have something for 
you all.” Of course Artie said, “All wight !” 


CHAPTER III. 


Wili/s Hero. 

/^\ RAUDMA had hardly finished her supper 


VJT 


when Artie slipped down from his seat 


by his papa, and, cuddling up to her, said in 
what he meant for a polite whisper, 

“Gramma, leks go !” 

There had been such a discussion of military 
heroes at table that papa wanted to know what it 
all meant, and asked Artie if he was guessing at 
heroes, too. 

The hoys laughed, and Jack said, “JSTo, ‘the 
echo’ can’t come in this game. He’s countin’ on 
Gramma’s guesses to get his ‘calomels,’ as he 
calls ’em.” 

Poor little Artie felt somewhat hurt. He 
couldn’t help being the youngest any more than 
he could help saying “calomels” for caramels yet 
awhile. 


20 


Guessing at Heroes. 


“Never mind, little man, come here to mother, 
and she will help you to get a ‘hewo’ as well as 
the big hoys.” 

Artie flew to his mother’s side and scrambled 
up to her lap, saying, 

“All wight, Mamma! all wight! Gramma, 
dat’s fair, ain’t it ?” 

By this time Grandma had finished her sup- 
per, and they were all ready to go back to their 
guessing game. 

They found Will and Nellie waiting in the 
hall, and soon all were seated at Grandma’s fire- 
side. 

“Now, Will, speak up!” said Grandma. 

“Stonewall Jackson,” answered Will. 

“I thought so, too,” said Jack. “I guessed 
him, too.” 

And Nellie, who was never ■just in time, spoke 
up good naturedly, 

“Why, I was just thinking it might he Jack- 
son.” 


21 


Guessing at Heroes. 

“Now” said Grandma, “let me mention one 
beautiful trait in the character of Stonewall 
Jackson before we leave the subject. 

“He loved God and reverenced his holy day, 
and he never mailed a letter that must travel 
Sunday, unless, of course, it had to cross the 
ocean, and he never took his mail out of the office 
on Sunday. What a splendid example for us all 
to follow !” 

“Now, Will, have you a hero ready? In the 
meanwhile what is that under the bureau ?” 

Was there ever such a Grandma ! She really 
looked as if she was puzzled to know what it was. 
In a moment Artie was stretched flat on the floor 
peering eagerly under the bureau, and the others 
followed quickly enough. There was a waiter 
with big red apples and such splendid chestnuts ! 

“Appels an ? keknuts!” cried Artie, clapping 
both hands and feet at once. 

Grandma looked innocently surprised and 
wondered where they could have come from. 


22 Guessing at Heroes. 

“Must we pull ’em out ? Must we bring ’em 
to you, Grandma ?” 

Everybody was talking at once, and there 
seemed to be a possibility that Will’s bero would 
not be put before the company that night. 

But Grandma was a good commander. She 
knocked on the table and said, 

“Attention, company !” and everybody jumped 
up and looked at her. 

“Don’t you think we had better let Will give 
us his hero, and then we can be guessing while 
we take our refreshments ? 

“On Saturday we will count up who guessed 
all the heroes correctly, and he or she shall — 
treat us to caramels !” 

Artie drew a long breath. He had not ex- 
pected to treat everybody to caramels, and he 
wanted a big share whoever won the prize, but 
there was but one answer to be made to any of 
Grandma’s proposition, so he called out some- 
what faintly, 


Guessing at Heroes. 


23 


“All wight.” 

“Now, Will, let’s hear who you have chosen 
for your hero.” 

Will’s bright face flushed with embarrass- 
ment, for this company, though small, was de- 
cidedly critical, and there was not only a waiter 
of apples and chestnuts ready, hut a prize ahead, 
and a prize was a prize to Will, even if it was 
only a box of chocolate caramels. 

“Well, my hero was horn in the West. He 
was a poor hoy, and his father thought he was 
too stupid to learn much. He had to work, and 
sold newspapers on a train, and then he printed 
a paper of his own and sold it with the other 
papers. Then somebody taught him telegraphy, 
and he could soon telegraph so fast. Once, when 
he was trying to get work, he went to a telegraph 
office and asked for a place. He looked so young 
and was so shabbily dressed the man laughed at 
him, hut when he sat down at the instrument he 
worked so fast that they telegraphed from the 


24 Guessing at Heroes. 

other end, ‘Hello ! who are yon ? You work so 
fast we can’t keep up with you.’ 

“In a short time he invented something that 
was a great help in telegraphing, and from that 
time he kept on inventing. 

“The most wonderful thing he has ever done, 
I think, was to telegraph people’s handwriting 
and drawings. 

“1 don’t love war. Of course, I am proud of 
the soldiers who fought bravely and loved their 
country enough to die for it; hut I believe I 
would rather he my hero than even General 
Jackson.” 

“Why, Will!” said Hugh, whose tastes were 
decidedly martial. But, you see, Hugh knew 
more about gallant soldiers and brave generals 
than he did about such heroes of peace as 
Will’s. 

Grandma held up her hand and said, 

“Yes, and he made it possible for us to hear 
beautiful music and even funny anecdotes long 


Guessing at Heroes. 25 

after they were played or spoken. But why do 
you think this man a hero ?” 

Jack said a hero was “somebody who does 
something grand or brave.” 

“Well, I think he was brave to work and 
study and try to support himself when he was a 
hoy ; and I think he has helped the world by his 
inventions.” 

“You are right, my dear. There are more 
ways than one of being brave and useful. 

“And now let’s take some apples and chestnuts 
and to-morrow evening at seven o’clock sharp we 
will meet and guess Will’s hero, and hear of an- 
other.” 

How those apples and chestnuts disappeared ! 
And what a jolly time they had, only every now 
and then Jack fell into a brown study over Will’s 
hero. 

At last Mamma came and claimed Artie, and 
Will and Hellie said good-night, and Grandma 
was left smiling to herself over her knitting. 


26 Guessing at Heroes. 

Wliat wonder she smiled ! Isn’t it enough 
to make any one smile to be able to give so much 
pleasure to others as Grandma did ? And it cer- 
tainly does make people feel happy. 


CHAPTER IV. 


Nellie's Heeo. 

T I THURSDAY evening it was raining stead- 
ily, but just about time for sunset here 
came Will and Nellie, and they took off water- 
proofs and overshoes in a hurry, for Will was 
very anxious to know if any one had guessed 
his hero. 

Jack called out from the back porch, where 
he was trying to comfort himself by roller 
skating, 

“Will, your hero’s too hard. I can’t guess 
him; and yet somehow it seems to me that I 
ought to know.” 

Nellie looked very knowing and very happy, 
but she ran on to Grandma’s room, and there 
she found Hugh, evidently confiding his per- 
plexity to Grandma. 


28 


Guessing at Heroes. 


“Well, Nellie,” said Grandma, “you look 
very bright and confident ; I think that you must 
have guessed correctly this time ?” 

Nellie had come out behind the others so 
many times that now she could not wait for the 
boys to come in, but answered quite bravely, 
“Yes’m, Wilks hero was Thomas Edison; and 
I found out for myself, too.” 

She had spoken so loudly that Will and Jack, 
who had lingered in the hall, heard her, and 
came running in, saying, 

“We guessed him, too! We guessed him, 
Gramma !” 

“If Gramma hadn’t said that about his help- 
ing to hear music and jokes long after they had 
been sung and said, I don’t believe I would have 
guessed right though,” said Hugh; “but, you 
know, papa took us once to hear a phonograph 
at the Y. M. C. A. hall.” 

Artie came running in just then all out of 
breath. He climbed up on his usual seat, and, 


Guessing at Heroes. 29 

drawing down Grandma’s head, said in a loud 
whisper, 

“O Gramma ! me’s got a hewo, too !” Every- 
body laughed, but Grandma kissed the rosy little 
face and said, 

“All right. You shall have your turn. Nellie 
must give us her hero this evening, you see, as 
she has guessed certainly for the first time.” 

Just a shade of disappointment clouded the 
bright face for a moment, then he said, 

“All wight,” and leaned back against Grand- 
ma resignedly. 

Nellie was a good deal excited and somewhat 
confused at first, but soon forgot herself. 

“My hero was a Southern man, and was horn 
in a beautiful home. 

“The sweetest thing that I know about him 
was that he was always so good and so tender 
to his mother, who was an invalid. His father 
died when he was younger than I am, and he 
seemed to feel that he must take his place. He 


30 Guessing at Heroes. 

would come home quickly from school to see 
that the carriage was ready for his mother to 
drive out, and would help her in, and then go in 
to see about a great many things that boys do not 
generally like to do, to spare her. He went to 
West Point, and stood splendidly in his class. 
He fought in two wars and kept being pro- 
moted for bravery, and he showed his patriotism 
by giving up his commission to join the South- 
ern army. All the soldiers loved him, and they 
had a pet name for him. He 'had a splendid 
horse that he loved very much ? and gave him a 
very unusual name for a horse. 

“I think the reason my hero was such a grand 
soldier was that his mother taught him, when he 
was a small hoy, to practice self-denial and self- 
control, and economy. He didn’t have every- 
thing that he wanted. 

“ Another beautiful thing about him was his 
kindness and thoughtfulness for everybody. 

“ After his mother’s death he took a faithful 


Guessing at Heroes. 31 

servant-man South for his health. Had the best 
doctors and a comfortable room for him, and 
tried in every way to have him well again.” 

Grandma’s hand was np. 

“Yes, Nellie, and your hero was not only a 
great general, hut a loving son, and husband and 
father, and, best of all, a true Christian. Even 
his enemies admired and respected him. 

“I heard a lady say that the last time she ever 
saw him he was mounted on that splendid horse 
you told of, and that he suddenly stopped his 
horse on the top of a hill to watch the sunset. 

“lie was dressed in his Confederate uniform, 
with a soft, black felt hat, and his long huff 
gauntlets, and sat as erect as a young man, with 
the beautiful evening sky for background, the 
grandest picture of a true warrior and gentle- 
man that she ever saw. This was only a short 
while before he died.” 

Hugh and Will both clapped their hands. 

“I’m sure I know,” said Hugh. 


32 


Guessing at Heroes. 


“So do I,” added Will with a nod. 

“I believe I do, too/’ said Jack slowly. Just 
then Mamma’s head appeared in a wide crack 
of the door, and she asked, 

“May I come in ? May I speak in meetin’ ?” 

Of course everybody was pleased to see her, 
from Grandma down; hut Artie was especially 
gratified and slipped down from Grandma’s lap 
to hold her hand with a very important air. 

“A T ow,” said Mrs. Allan, what I want to say 
is this: “My little man here has a hero, too, and 
he wants you to guess his to-morrow evening. 
I’m sure he cannot wait another day.” 

“Yek, an’ if dey don’ gek my he wo dey have 
to give me ev’y bit o' calomels !” cried Artie with 
a very positive shake of his curly head. 

There was a burst of laughter that nearly 
drowned the sound of the supper-hell; hut Jack, 
whose ears were always open for that, called out, 
“There’s the hell !” and bounded out of the room, 
followed very soon by the rest of the party. 


CHAPTER Y. 


Artie's Hero. 



EEORE the sun had set on Friday evening 


Artie suddenly dropped his playthings, 
and, running into his mother’s room, said, 

“Mamma ! ain’t it most time to go to Gram- 
ma’s woom to gueck ?” 

The eager little face was very dirty, and so 
were the hands and the apron, and the soft curls 
were so tangled and blowsy that Mamma laughed 
and said, 

“It will be time after we have put a coat of 
soap and water on your face and hands and 
smoothed your hair.” 

A look of resignation stole into the bright 
face, and with a sigh he said, 

“All wight! But vait a minute, Mamma,” 
and he bounded out of the room, and going to 


34 Guessing at Heroes. 

the back door called out in a very important 
tone of voice, 

“ ’Elio ! Ugh an’ Dackie an’ Vill, tnm on, 
it’s dettin’ lunlet !” (It is getting sunset.) 

Then he ran back and soon appeared in 
Grandma’s room. 

The boys were really very curious to begin 
guessing Artie’s hero, and so was Nellie, so that 
they very soon followed him. 

“Of course, Mamma ’ll help, and it will be 
hard to guess,” said Hugh. 

“ ’Course,” added Jack ; but Artie only looked 
up into Mamma’s face and put his fingers over 
his lips; “dick (just) to keep from tellin’, eh 
Mamma ?” and Mamma nodded in a very confi- 
dential and approving manner. 

At last they were all ready, and Artie decided 
that he must have a chair all to himself — “dick 
like de big boys.” 

“Eirst, though,” said Grandma, “who has 
guessed Nellie’s hero ?” 


Guessing at Heroes . 35 

“I did,” said Jack, “and it was Robert E. 
Lee.” 

“I guessed, too,” said Hugh. 

“And so did I,” added Will. 

Artie would have felt badly to be left behind 
in the race if he had not been so intent to tell of 
his own “hewo.” 

And Grandma, seeing what self-control the lit- 
tle fellow had shown, leaned over and kissed 
him and called him her little hero. 

“I b’lieve I made mine too easy,” said Nellie. 

“No, you didn’t, for I had to look in papa’s 
Life of General Lee to be sure,” replied Hugh. 

“Now, Artie, begin!” 

Everbody giggled, for they all knew what a 
wonderful language Artie spoke, but Mamma 
stamped her foot and said, “Stop that right 
away, children !” And everybody knew that 
when Mamma stamped her foot and said “chil- 
dren,” too, she meant business. 

So Artie, with his rosy cheeks aflame, and his 


36 Guessing at Heroes. 

beautiful eyes shining, gave one look to 
Mamma, as if to get a supply of courage, then 
began to twist his dress in his fingers and began, 

“Well, my hewo vas a Norf Carolin-ian” — 
he paused a moment to get breath after the ef- 
fort — “an’ ee did never go in a battle but ee did 
fight a geat big wat once” (a great big rat once.) 

Here there were such shouts of laughter that 
Artie’s hero might never have been heard from 
any more if Grandma, after wiping away the 
tears that had come with her laugh, had not said 
firmly, 

“That will do now, boys. That will do! 
Let’s hear some more, Artie.” 

Artie, too “full of his subject” to mind the 
laughter, said, 

“Vat nex’, Mamma?” 

Mamma whispered something. 

“Oh! yek!” (yes). “An ven ee ver a lickie 
(little) girl, ee did top ee Mamma’s ouck 
(house) fum bunnin’ (burning) tause ee fowed 


Guessing at Heroes. 37 

(threw) a bucket of water on de carpet vere de 
fire vas. An’ ee love evy chile, an’ ee is de besses 
(best) bewo me ebber did lee” (see). And here 
he clapped his bands at his own joke, and, slip- 
ping down from bis chair, stood in the middle of 
the circle as he added, “An ee dot pitty (pretty) 
eyes vid peckles. An’ — an’ — oh ! yek ! ee made 
a great big loldier lo cared (soldier so scared) 
ee dick licked ee orchie (horsie) an’ rnnned 
avay !” 

Hugh clapped his hands, and Jack held np 
his. Indeed, every hand was up hut Grandma’s 
and Mamma’s. 

Grandma looked into the fire, and leaned on 
her hand and said, 

“My ! my ! I wonder who it was ?” while 
Artie danced all around her, saying, 

“Hoo? Gramma, Hoo?” 

“Why, Grandma! yon are just pretending 
now,” said Hugh and Jack and all of them at 


once. 


38 Guessing at Heroes. 

“You know you had a battle with a rat once.” 

“Oh — oh !” said Grandma, raising her hand, 
“and your hero has a wonderful tree that grows 
cake and fruit ; and she has the very dearest lit- 
tle hero herself that any one ever saw, if he can- 
not speak English very well yet.” 

Here she caught the dear little man up to 
cover him with kisses, and while everybody was 
saying, “I know! I know!” supper-hell rang, 
and Mamma went off in a hurry and left the rest 
to escort the two heroes to supper. 


CHAPTER VI. 


Jack's Hero. 

CAF COURSE everybody had guessed Artie’s 
“hewo,” in spite of his “foreign tongue/’ 
and, after the children had finished laughing at 
him, and he had repeated his story for papa’s 
benefit, Grandma said she thought that, if they 
were not too tired, and there were no lessons to 
be studied, they might have Jack’s Hero after 
supper, and then, as Saturday night was “scrub- 
bing night,” they would not have a meeting of 
the “Guess Club,” but, if mamma was willing, 
they would meet on Sunday night instead. 

“All in favor say aye.” 

There was one dissenting voice. 

“Vy, Gramma ! oo donter hab fun on Hod’s 
day. ?” (You goin to have fun on God’s 
day!) 


40 Guessing at Heroes. 

This, in a very shocked tone of voice, from 
Artie. 

Grandma took the little pharisee up and, kiss- 
ing him, said, 

“Don’t you think we can find a Sunday hero ? 
God has had many a hero, who has given his life 
gladly and grandly for his service and for his 
fellow-men. And Grandmother wants the chil- 
dren to know about such heroes, that they may 
copy them as they have copied the Master ; and 
she prays that God may grant that some of her 
boys may yet be as true a hero as the one she will 
tell you about on Sunday evening, with Artie’s 
permission.” 

“Now, Jack, let’s have your hero.” 

Jack took the seat of honor, in the middle of 
the circle, Grandma began to knit, and Artie 
cuddled against her knee on a hassock, his big 
brown eyes as eager as anybody’s, when Jack, 
after many wriggles and twists, and with a very 
important air, began, 


Guessing at Heroes. 


41 


“Well, my hero was a mountain boy, and 
loved the mountains like everything, and he 
lived on a farm ’till he was old enough to go off 
to school and college. Then, I believe, he was a 
lawyer and got married, an’ — an’ ” — Jack was 
getting a little confused and mixed; he had 
counted on Mamma’s help, hut she couldn’t 
come in. 

Grandma felt sorry for him, and asked, with 
an encouraging smile, “Did he ever go to the 
Legislature ?” 

“Yes’m; an’ he was Governor of his State 
twice, an’ when he was runnin’ for Governor he 
used to put on suits of mountain jeans and old 
hats, an’ go ’way up in the mountains to see 
the people, and make funny speeches and shook 
hands with everybody, and everybody loved him, 
and lots of children were named for him. 

“When the war began he went to the army, 
and was a brave soldier ; hut he did more for his 
people just after the war than at any time. 


42 Guessing at Heroes. * 

“He loved his State and the South and did 
much for their good, and was true and honest 
all the time, and nobody could buy him. 

“When he died everybody was sorry, and peo- 
ple covered his coffin with flowers, and one poor 
convict begged them to let him ‘see his face 
once more/ because he was the only friend he 
ever had, and he knelt by the coffin and just 
cried.” 

Here Grandma raised her hand and said, 

“One of the most touching things I ever read 
about your hero was that when they were tak- 
ing him hack to he buried in the land he loved so 
well, the train stopped at a mountain station. 
It was nearly dark, and yet the platform was full 
of men and women who had come miles to get 
a last look at him, and the mountain women 
brought wild flowers and laid them on his cof- 
fin, while they wiped away the tears of sorrow, 
because they would see him no more !” 

Suddenly Hugh’s hand went up. “I think I 


Guessing at Heroes. 43 

know ! I’ve been remembering all along. Yes ! 
yes ! J ack, yonr bero bad a cnrions name, didn’t 
he ? And didn’t they call him ole 

Tap ! tap ! at the door and everybody turned 
around. 

“Come in,” said Grandma, and in walked Mr. 
Barker. He had a bell in bis hand, and began 
ringing it, and then be said, 

“How are you, ma’m ! I’ve lost two children, 
a boy and a girl ; and they tell me that you keep 
boys and girls to hire, and I’ve come to hire 
two.” 

Then everybody laughed, and Artie clapped 
hands loudly. He always thought Mr. Barker 
so funny. 

Of course Mr. B. had come for Will and Hel- 
lie, and this was so much nicer a way to say so 
than if he had looked cross and said, 

“Children, come home ; it is bed-time !” 

Grandma looked solemnly around the circle, 
and then pointing to Will and Hellie, said, 


44 Guessing at Heroes. 

“There are two which I could spare you until 
to-morrow evening. My charge will he one dol- 
lar’s worth of smiles and pleasant words. Be 
kind to them, give them plenty to eat, and return 
them promptly at sundown to-morrow evening.” 

Then Mr. Barker said, “Very good! very 
good ! I accept your terms, madam. Why, bless 
my soul, they really look like the children I’ve 
lost, which is quite a recommendation in itself !” 

Then everybody clapped hands and said, 
“Hurrah for Gramma ! and hurrah for Mr. 
Barker.” “You’re a great Gramma, certain,” 
added Hugh, and Artie, because he must say 
something and could think of nothing bet- 
ter, said, “AH — wight !” — and Grandma was 
left alone. ^ v 




CHAPTER VII. 


Grandma's Sunday Hero. 

IIE church bells were ringing for night ser- 



vice though the daylight was still in the 


sky. 


Grandma never went to church at night, and 
Artie, for a long while, had claimed her as his 
special property on Sunday evenings, and they 
generally spent the time “telling tales.” 

But to-night he was very willing for the other 
children to share her with him, and they were 
all ready, as soon as papa and mamma started 
to church, to begin guessing Grandma’s “Sun- 
day hero.” 

“Must we guess Jack’s hero first?” asked 
Nellie. 

“No, dear, I think that we had best leave 
that for to-morrow evening, then we’ll count the 
guesses, and somebody will get the caramels !” 


46 Guessing at Heroes. 

There was a subdued clapping of hands. Artie 
looked slightly troubled, though his trust in 
Grandma was not shaken. He knew that he 
would have a good share whoever won ! 

“Well, now, dear children, as this is Sun- 
day, and we want to have an extra nice time, sup- 
pose we sing awhile before we begin.” 

This suggestion of Grandma’s was hailed with 
very strong approval, for they all dearly loved 
to sing. It is true that Artie did not add much 
to the melody when he joined in, but he thought 
that he did; and there was one thing Grandma 
never allowed, and that was for anybody to 
laugh at his attempts. 

“How, what shall we sing ?” 

Artie’s hand went up very quickly, while the 
others called out almost with one voice, 

“ ‘Follow On !’ ” Gramma, ‘Follow On !’ ” 
Grandma stooped over and kissed Artie’s 
eager little face uplifted to her’s, and said, 
“What does Grandma’s boy want to sing ?” 


47 


Guessing at Heroes. 

“Dewels,” Gramma, “pease’m.” It was no 
harm surely to smile at this, for he was not sing- 
ing, and everybody smiled. 

“Why, yes, let us sing ‘ Jewels’ first, and then 
we can sing ‘Follow On.’ They both suit very 
nicely for all I have to say about my hero.” 

So, for Artie’s benefit and with- his very 
earnest assistance, they sang, “When He Com- 
eth, When He Cometh to Make up His Jewels.” 

After they had finished Grandma asked if any 
body could repeat a Bible verse about jewels. 

Hellie’s hand was up in a moment, and when 
Grandma nodded to her she repeated very dis- 
dinctly, 

“And they shall he mine, saith the Lord of 
Hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels.” 
(Malachi iii. 17.) 

“That is beautiful, and I am so glad to hear 
you give the chapter and verse, too.” 

“How, Grandma, please begin ; we are so curi- 
ous about your hero,” said Will. 


48 Guessing at Heroes. 

“Well, my hero was a dear Southern hoy, who 
joined the Presbyterian church when he was not 
as old as Hugh, and who was like the Lord Jesus, 
because he went about his Lather’s business 
when he was quite young. 

“He was only twelve when he acted as super- 
intendent of a colored Sunday-school. Think 
of that !” 

All the children laughed at the idea of a boy 
of twelve conducting a Sunday-school, but 
Grandma said, 

“But, my dears, he did not do it for fun. His 
aunt really managed the school, and she has told 
how frightened he was when he had to open the 
school with a prayer, and to say a few words 
to the crowd that filled the church. He came 
near breaking down, but when he looked up 
and caught her eye, he went on and finished 
nicely. 

“At last he grew up and became a minister, 
and then God called him to go to a far-off land, 


Guessing at Heroes. 49 

to tell tlie glad gospel story to the heathen ; and 
though he had a lovely home and many friends, 
and there was much to he done for his Master 
here, he felt a great pity for the people in that 
distant land, thousands of miles away. I won- 
der who can tell me what command he was obey- 
ing ?" 

Will's hand was up, and he said promptly, 

“Go ye into all the world and preach the gos- 
pel to every creature." 

“Very good, my dear; and now, who can re- 
peat the promise that goes with it ?” 

“And lo ! I am with you alway, even unto the 
end of the world. Matt, xxviii. 20," added 
Nellie promptly. 

“That is right, my dear. My hero loved that 
promise, I am sure* Well, he went to London 
first, and made many kind friends there, and 
learned a great many things that were useful to 
him as a missionary. Then he went to see the 
king of another country, because he needed his 


50 Guessing at Heroes. 

permission before be could start bis mission sta- 
tion. He felt very nervous, tbis brave young 
soldier of the cross, at the idea of entering the 
presence of a king; but when be was really be- 
fore him be found that he was less disturbed 
than when he met the officers of the king’s court 
in their splendid uniforms ; for the king treated 
him with all the courtesy one gentleman offers 
another, and talked to him so kindly about his 
work that he soon forgot his nervousness. 

“At last all his preparations were complete, 
and he sailed away over the seas in a splendid 
ocean steamer, with only one friend with him 
that he knew ; but he made many new and lovely 
friends, for everybody seemed to love him. 
Many of these were going, as he was, to obey 
the Master’s command. 

“ After many weeks and months, some passed 
on the water, others spent in making arrange- 
ments for the long, long journey through a wild 
country, they began the journey. As they had 


Guessing at Heroes. 51 

no railroads, or any other kind of roads, but 
paths, it took quite a train of people to carry 
their baggage and their pocket booh, as well as 
themselves.” 

“O Gramma, the idea ! They must have had 
lots of money,” said Hugh. 

Everybody laughed, and Grandma said, 

“Well, it actually took two men ! and I’ll tell 
you why. There was a good deal of it, such as 
it was, for they used neither gold nor silver, nor 
paper money, as we do, but had seventy-five 
dozen red handkerchiefs, bolts of domestic, brass 
wire, heads and other things, and with these they 
paid for everything they bought. 

“It was months and months before they could 
find a place that suited in every way for a mis- 
sion station, and my hero had a great many ad- 
ventures, and saw a great many curious sights, 
and many very sad ones, and was sick many 
times before they settled down. And all the 
while his heart grew more and more sorry for 


52 Guessing at Heroes. 

these poor people who did not know the true 
God, and Jesus, who had died for them. 

“After many wanderings, and sufferings from 
fever, they settled on a place that seemed to he 
the very best for our Southern Presbyterian 
Mission. And they began to clear the ground 
and to put up some queer little houses that they 
had bought and had moved to the place. 

“One of the hardest things he had to do was 
to learn the language; for the people had no 
books, and he had to learn by listening to the 
names they gave to things. But he learned 
quickly, and would every day, nearly, add new 
words to the list he kept in a little book. 

“As time passed on he had to leave the station 
on business, and took with him a bright little 
native hoy to wait on him. 

“It was a long and tiresome journey, even 
when he was travelling by steamboat, and the 
weather was very warm, and no wonder he be- 
came sick. 


53 


Guessing at Heroes. 

“But God let him finish all his business for 
the station successfully, and there were kind 
and experienced Christian friends with him who 
did everything they could to cure him, hut in 
vain. 

“After a week’s sickness God called him 
home. He laid down his bright young life, so 
useful and so brave, far from father and mother 
and friends, even from his faithful missionary 
friend, and there he lies buried in the far-off 
land.” 

Hugh had been listening eagerly, and now 
his eyes brightened, and he held up his hand, 

“O Gramma ! Didn’t we all make money, all 
sorts of ways, to buy a boat — .” 

Here Jack, Will and Hellie raised their 
hands, and Artie followed very timidly. 

“0 ! Gramma, wasn’t it Lapsley ?” they all 
cried. 

“Yes, dears ; and I’m glad that you all know, 
and may God grant that you may love his mem- 


54 Guessing at Heroes. 

ory, and serve the same Master as faith- 
fully.” 

“Grandma,” asked Nellie slowly, “why did 
God let him die ?” 

The old, old question wrung from so many 
lips, was puzzling this child. 

“Ah! dear, God only knows; but we know 
that he never makes mistakes. Do you think 
that the children of the church would ever have 
raised ten thousand dollars for God’s work in 
Africa if Lapsley had not died? I do not 
think so. And many people feel interest in that 
great work they would never have felt but for 
the sad ending of that bright young life.” 

Artie’s eyes were almost shut, so Grandma 
said, 

“Now let’s sing, ‘Follow On,’ and then say 
good-night.” 

As they sang the last line of the chorus Grand- 
ma’s eyes tilled with tears. 

“Anywhere with Jesus would I follow on !” 


Guessing at Heroes. 55 

She wondered if Lapsley had not sung it 
often. 

“To-morrow night, children, for the name of 
Jack’s hero, and for the box of caramels.” Then 
she said, “'God bless you all !” and led her sleepy 
little hero off to bed. 


CHAPTER VIII. 


“Good-bye, Grandma!” 



T SUNDOWN on Monday the children 


began to gather, a good deal excited over 
the caramel prize, and ready to gness Jack's 
hero, hut all with jnst a little cloud on their 
bright faces. 

As Grandma looked around the circle she saw 
that there was something troubling them. The 
room never looked more cheery, nor the children 
more attractive, and yet — what was it ? 

“Why, my dears, what’s the matter? You 
have come in as if you had come to church.” 

As Artie clambered up to his usual seat they 
all called out, 

“Oh ! Grandma, what are you going away for ? 
Aunt Martie don’t need you half as badly as we 


do !” 


Guessing at Heroes. 57 

The cat was out of the bag ! They had found 
out that Grandma was going away, and the com- 
ing event had cast its shadow before. 

Grandma couldn’t help being glad for once 
to see them sorry, for she dearly loved these chil- 
dren, and it was one of the greatest pleasures of 
her life to give them pleasure, and she was 
pleased to know that her efforts were appreci- 
ated. Everybody likes to he missed — especially 
every old lady. 

a Bless your dear hearts ! Grandma feels 
proud to know that her children don’t want her 
to go away. I do believe you have enjoyed 
‘Guessing at Heroes,’ even if there had been no 
caramels ahead.” 

“Yes’m ! Yes’m !” everybody exclaimed, while 
there was a great clapping of hands, Artie giv- 
ing a kiss every now and then, by way of variety. 

“Well, Grandma is sorry and glad. Sorry to 
leave and glad that you do not want her to go ; 
but Aunt Martie has a right to her share of me, 


58 Guessing at Heroes. 

you see, and you will have the fun of getting 
ready for me and of welcoming me hack.” 

“Dac no fun, Gramma,” said Artie, in a dis- 
consolate tone, while he stroked her face. Then 
everybody was obliged to laugh. 

“Well, there will he two more days, and now 
we must find out who is the owner of that.” She 
pointed to a pretty box all tied with ribbon of 
her favorite color — purple. 

Eyes gleamed and hands were clapped noisily. 

Grandma rapped for order, and said, 

“Who has guessed Jack’s hero ?” 

Hugh and Will raised their hands, and Hellie 
said, 

“I ought to know, but I can’t quite guess. I’m 
afraid I’ll have to give it up !” 

“Well, Will, Hugh, speak up !” 

“Governor Vance,” both said at once. 

“That is right, and how did you find out ?” 

“Why, I remembered hearing papa read about 
how the people showed their love for Vance when 


Guessing at Heroes. 59 

he was being taken to Asheville to be buried/’ 
replied Hugh. 

“And I,” said Will, “remember that Miss 
May told us at school about the convict that 
knelt beside his coffin in Raleigh.” 

“Row, dear children, you see bow nice it is 
to know something about the men who have been 
good and brave and patriotic and true to God. 
I hope you will go on looking up heroes, and 
heroines, too, and have quite a supply when I 
come home. Row, let us count up.” Saying 
this, she drew a paper from the table at her side 
on which was written : 

LIST OF HEROES. 

George Washington — Hugh. 

Stonewall Jackson — Jack and Will. 

Thomas Edison — Rellie. 

Robert E. Lee — Will, Hugh and Jack. 

Grandma — All. 

Samuel Lapsley — Hugh, Jack, Will and Rel- 
lie. 


60 Guessing at Heroes. 

Z. B. Yance — Hugh and Will. 

“You see, children/ 7 said Grandma, after 
reading the list, “that I have put opposite to 
each hero the names of those who guessed cor- 
rectly. 77 

They all crowded around her, eager to see the 
paper, for they did not remember how they had 
guessed* 

In a moment Hugh 7 s face flushed a rosy red, 
for he thought he had come out ahead ; hut when 
Grandma finished counting it proved that he 
and Will were even. 

“Well, dears, here 7 s how we stand : Will and 
Hugh each guessed five out of seven. Jack 
guessed four, and Hellie three. 77 

Artie was gazing up into Grandma’s face with 
such a comical expression of anxiety that it was 
hard for her to keep her gravity. She kissed 
the little up-turned face and said in a whisper, 
“Hever mind, baby hoy, Grandma’s hero shall 


have his share. 77 


Guessing at Heroes. 61 

“N"ev’ mine, lome (some) o’ dese times I’ll 
know about dose hewoes, an’ den you’ll lee how 
kick I’ll gueck.” (How quick I’ll guess.) 

This was said with a very flushed face and 
with resolute manner, and “brought down the 
house.” 

“I propose that Will and Hugh shall draw 
straws for the prize. I like that better than di- 
viding it. Remember, dears, that you must be 
willing. to abide by the decision. One of the best 
ways to begin to be heroes is to be generous and 
courteous. Get the broom for Grandma, Nellie, 
and pull out two straws, then call papa and 
mamma.” 

A large circle of chairs was placed, and when 
papa and mamma came all were seated, and 
Grandma called Will and Hugh. She held out 
to them a book in which the straws had been 
placed, and each drew a straw. Will’s was the 
short one, and Grandma put the box into his 
hands. 


62 Guessing at Heroes. 

In spite of a lump in his throat Hugh joined in 
the hand-clapping and said, 

“That’s all right, Will. I’m glad that you 
got it.” 

This made Grandma very proud, for she 
knew that Hugh had conquered self when He 
said it. 

Dear old Grandma then turned to Artie and 
said, 

“You move the screen for me, little man.” 

How, nobody had noticed when they first came 
in that Grandma’s screen was not in its usual 
place by the wash-stand, so they were quite sur- 
prised when Artie obeyed and showed a table 
covered with fruit and candy and nuts, and a 
pretty little box of caramels, with a card at- 
tached. On the card was written, 

“Tor Grandma’s little ‘hero,’ for his patience 
while others guessed.” 

What a Grandma! How everybody clapped 
her, and Will kissed her, and Artie kissed her, 


63 


Guessing at Heroes. 

and Jack cried, “Jolly ! jolly !” and Nellie said, 
“I think this the grandest Grandma I ever 
knew,” and everybody else said, “That's so.” 

They had a line time until the clock showed 
them it was time to go. 

Before he went out Hugh whispered to his 
Grandma, “I did feel pretty had for a minute 
when I found that Will had got the caramels, 
but, you know, I'm older than he is, and, be- 
sides, he's my chum.” 

Six months makes a great difference in a boy's 
age, you know ! 

Grandma patted him, though, and told him 
how gratified she was. 

It was a sorrowful crowd of children that saw 
the carriage drive off two days later; for 
Grandma was gone for two months, and home 
was never so bright without her. 

“Good-bye, Grandma !” they all called, and 
Artie's brown eyes filled up and his rosy lips 
quivered. It was well mamma was there to com- 
fort him ! 




' 








































































PART II. 


GUESSING AT 


BIBLE HEROES. 






' 

















PART II. 


Guessing at Bible Heroes. 


CHAPTER I. 


BIBLE HEEOES THIS TIME. 



RAHDMA was gone several months, in- 


stead of a few weeks, as she at first ex- 
pected, and when she came home the children 
were getting ready for a month’s holiday in the 
mountains, and after they had settled down 
again after their holiday, there was so much for 
Grandma to tell about her visit, and so much for 
them to tell about their wonderful trip, that 
Grandma waited for the first cool evening in 
October, when she could have a bright fire burn- 
ing to welcome them. Then she blew a little 
silver whistle, that used to belong to Grandpa, 
and Artie and Hita, Aunt Martie’s little girl, 


68 Guessing at Heroes. 

who had been playing together on the porch, 
came running in. 

“Vat’s it, Gramma?” asked Artie. 

“Why, I want all the children for a little 
while ; I have something to propose.” 

Now, neither of the little folks knew what 
that big word meant ; but they both knew that 
when Grandma wanted all the children there 
was something nice in store. 

Artie clapped his hands gleefully, saying, 
“All yite,” which he thought a great improve- 
ment on “All wite.” 

“Chillen ! chillen ! oh! Ugh! Dack! Come 
on ! come on ! Gramma is callin’ er’ybody !” 

Hugh was just finishing a lesson and Jack 
was playing one last game of marbles with Will 
in the back yard, but they all pricked up their 
ears and were ready to go. 

“Somebody run across the street and ask 
Nellie if she wants to come, too,” said Grandma, 
when they all came bursting into her room. 


Guessing at Heroes. 69 

Artie, always willing to run on Grandma’s 
errands, pushed through the group, saying, 

“Me, Gramma ! Me — vant to go !” 

Artie was trying hard to talk English, his 
papa said. 

Away he ran, calling out as he hurst open Mr. 
Barker’s hall door, 

“Nellie ! Nellie ! come kick, Gramma’s got 
somefin’ to — to — pur — pose. Come on!” 

Mrs. Barker heard him and smiled, hut she 
called out, “Nellie ! Nellie Barker ! run over 
and see what Grandma Bright wants.” 

Nellie did not even wait for her hat, hut 
crossed the street, and running quickly to 
Grandma’s door, tapped softly. 

“Come in ! come in ! come in !” came from 
all the children, and in a moment she was in her 
place, too much out of breath to speak.” 

“Well, children, this looks like old times. 
And now, let’s come to business,” and Grandma 
rapped on the table for order. 


70 Guessing at Heroes. 

“I called you together to see if the Guess Club 
was ready to meet again. All in favor, hold up 
a hand.” 

All the hands were up ! 

“Well, now suppose we take Bible Heroes 
this time. I think it would be very pleasant, 
and besides that, I think it will make us all 
read our Bibles more carefully.” 

“Hita shall have everything explained to her, 
and mamma will help Artie, if he needs it ; hut 
I believe he knows a good many heroes in the 
Bible now.” 

Artie patted Grandma’s hand, highly pleased 
at this praise. 

“We will have only one meeting a week — on 
Friday — if nothing prevent, and I will give a 
prize, at the end of two months, for the one 
who has guessed most correctly, and we will 
invite Mr. and Mrs. Barker, and papa and 
mamma.” 

Then the dear, wonderful old Grandma 


Guessing at Heroes. 71 

opened her table drawer, and drew out a little 
square box. 

“Here,” she said, “are the badges for the 
members of the Guess Club,” and she took out 
the cutest little rosettes of red ribbon with a 
silver pin to stick them on, and the figure on it 
looked just like a question mark! 

After she bad pinned on all of the badges, 
there were two left in the box. “Who for, 
Gramma ?” asked Artie. “Well, we want to 
make papa and mamma honorary members, so 
that they can help some time.” 

“Vat’s dat, Gramma?” of course Artie was 
going to ask, Grandma was certain of that ; hut 
from the frowns on some other faces, she 
thought there were others who would like to 
know too. 

“Honorary members are those who are allowed 
to join just as a compliment to them. They are 
not obliged to come every time ; nor to try for 
the prize, hut we like to have them with us. 


72 Guessing at Heroes. 

Does my little man understand ?” He nodded 
liis head again and again, very confidently, and 
then Grandma said, 

“I will have a hero for you to guess on Friday 
evening, and you must be here by seven.” 

She had just finished in time, for supper bell 
rang, and she put down her knitting and went 
right off to supper. 


CHAPTER II. 


WILE'S HERO. 


RANDMA noticed the next Sunday 


VX 


afternoon that Hugh and Jack were very 


busy over their Bibles, and she was very glad 
of it. 

Then, at supper time, Mrs. Allan said, 
“Grandma Bright gave us a lovely Sunday 
afternoon, didn’t she, Artie?” 

“Yesh’em,” said Artie, shaking his head very 
earnestly. 

“Yesh, an’ me — I — know a good hewo, I tell 


you!” 

Hita Morgan, who did not feel quite at home 
with her cousins yet, was afraid to say any- 
thing, but she looked very pleased, for auntie 
had been telling Artie and herself about some 
splendid Bible hoys, and they had both selected 
heroes for their turn. 


74 Guessing at Heroes. 

Friday afternoon Grandma was busy getting 
her room ready for the Guess Club, and one of 
the first things she did was to put on her badge. 

Behind her pretty screen she set a waiter of 
apples, and several ears of pop-corn, so you see 
the Guess Club, did not spend all the time guess- 
ing at heroes ! 

Very soon after sundown there was a tap at 
the door. 

“Come in !” said Grandma, and in walked Ar- 
tie, followed by Nit a ; and each of them had a 
small chair, so that they could sit close to 
Grandma. 

Then Artie said, “Gramma, you weckon dose 
boys forgot? Maybe I better go call ’em an’ 
Nellie, too.” Grandma smiled and kissed the 
eager face. 

“Well, you can call them; but I think that 
their memories, maybe, are as long as yours.” 

“I bet you dey forgot,” said Artie, as he ran 
out ; but he came back quickly, “Oh ! Gramma, 


Guessing at Heroes. 75 

lemme blow de fistle !” Grandma gave bim the 
pretty silver whistle, and he stood on the porch 
outside of her door and blew the whistle until 
Grandma called out, “Artie ! Artie ! that will 
do, dear!” and when he came in his face was 
so rosy that Grandma took her fingers out of 
her ears and laughed heartily. 

Directly Hugh and Will came, and then 
Nellie, and lastly Jack, who only put his mar- 
bles into his pocket after he got inside the 
door. 

“Where are your badges, boys ?” asked 
Grandma, for Nellie was the only one, besides 
Grandma, who had remembered to put on her 
badge. 

The boys did not wait to reply, but ran out, 
and soon all came back with their badges pinned 
on. 

“We must wear our badges for more than 
one reason,” said Grandma, “first, to let people 
see that we belong to the ‘G. C. ? and, second, 


76 Guessing at Heroes. 

to remind ourselves, so that we can be looking up 
heroes all the while.” 

“And, now, we are all here. Will, I believe 
it is jour evening to give us a hero.” 

“Let us remember that there are more ways 
than one of being a hero.” 

Wilks face flushed a little, hut he soon took 
courage and began. 

“My hero was an Ephrathite. He had to go 
away from home when he was a little boy. I 
think his mother must have prayed for him a 
great deal, for he seemed to he a good hoy all 
the time. She loved him very much, hut she 
had promised to lend him to God as long as he 
lived. She used to go to see him every year, 
and she carried something to him every time 
that she went. 

“He had to wait on an old man; and one 
night, after the lights were all out, and he had 
lain down to sleep on his pallet, he heard some 
one call him, and he ran to the old man’s side 


Guessing at Heroes. YY 

and said, ‘Here am 1/ and the old man told him 
he had never called. 

“He heard the voice three times before he 
found out who is was called him.” 

Grandma and Hugh were both holding up 
their hands by this time, and Hellie looked as if 
she almost knew. Jack, I am afraid, was think- 
ing more of his game of marbles than of Wilks 
hero ; . for he had one hand in his pocket, and 
you could hear the marbles knocking together, 
as if somebody was anxious to get out and to 
have another game. 

“Yes,” said Grandma, he was a brave hoy, 
and the very youngest child God ever spoke to, 
unless we except the Child J esus, to whom God 
must have spoken even when he was a little 
child.” 

“I wonder who can tell me some ways of 
honoring God?” 

Hellie’s hand was promptly held up. “By 
keeping the Sabbath day.” 


78 


Guessing at Heroes. 


“That is a good answer, dear. Now, who else 
can suggest something ?” 

Hugh said, “By keeping his commandments.” 

“First rate ! for that means in every way hon- 
oring him.” 

Nita’s hand was timidly raised, and Grand- 
ma encouraged her by saying, “Speak out, dear, 
I’m sure you can tell us another way to honor 
God.” 

“By telling people about Jesus.” 

Grandma thought that a very lovely way to 
honor God, for when we tell people of Jesus’ 
love — we must honor him. 

“Why, why ! how time flies here. That was 
the supper bell, I believe. I had something 
else for you all to do. Will, can’t you and Nel- 
lie come hack after supper ? Just look what we 
have to do yet.” 

As Grandma said this she pushed aside one 
fold of her pretty screen, and there was a 
waiter of apples, and several ears of pop-corn ! 


Guessing at Heroes. 79 

Everybody clapped bands, and Will cried out, 
“We’ll come back! Yes’m, this is Friday night. 
I’m sure Mamma will say, Wes.’ Who must 
give us a hero next time, Gramma ?” 

“Did anybody besides Hugh guess Will’s 
hero ?” 

“I *■ most got him, Gramma,” said Hellie, 
softly, but “most getting” did not count in this 
game, and so Grandma told Hugh he must have 
a hero ready for next time. 

After supper they had a grand time popping 
corn and eating apples, and all the children de- 
cided over again, that Grandma was the great- 
est Grandma in the land! 


CHAPTEK III. 


HUGH S HERO. 


LL through the week the children tried to 



get Hugh to give them some idea of who 
he was going to choose as his hero, but Hugh 
could keep a secret when he wanted to, and he 
wanted to keep this one. 

Grandma was very glad that he did not tell 
them anything about it, for she was sure that 
they would feel more interested if their curi- 
osity was excited. 

On Friday, at the dinner table, Mrs. Allen 
said, “This is the evening for the meeting of the 
Guess Club, I believe. Suppose that you meet 
in the sitting-room, there will be more room, 
especially if your honorary members attend.” 

She made the remark to everybody, and for 
reply she received a storm of noes ! 


81 


Guessing at Heroes. 

“ISTo ! no ! no !” cried Artie, his cheeks flush- 
ing into a deeper rose, “Gramma’s woom’s de 
bes’. All de nice sings is dere. Eh ! Gramma V 9 

Grandma was laughing, because all of the 
children were talking at once, but as soon as 
Artie put the question to her directly she rap- 
ped on the table with her knife, and then, hold- 
ing up her other hand, said, “All in favor of 
holding the meeting of the Guess Club in the 
sitting-room say, ‘Aye .’ 99 

Mamma’s voice sounded very lonely, for not 
even the other honorary member agreed with 
her. 

“All in favor of Grandma’s room say, 
‘Aye !’ ” 

Such a racket as there was in response ! hut 
Grandma’s “aye” was heard very plainly. 

As soon as the noise was hushed, Grandma 
said, “I think that we will meet in my room as 
usual, and the honorary member who made the 
motion to change will find that there is plenty 


82 Guessing at Heroes. 

of room for both of the H. M.’s whenever they 
want to come.” 

The children greeted this remark with much 
applause, and they gathered as usual around the 
fire in Grandma’s pretty room, and Hugh gave 
his hero. 

“My hero was the son of a king, and I think 
he must have been handsome, as well as brave, 
though the Bible does not say so. 

“When he was right young he did a grand 
thing. His father had enemies that were power- 
ful and cruel, and they had a great army of well- 
trained men. My hero’s people were very much 
‘frightened, and hid themselves in the moun- 
tains, because they had no weapons to fight with, 
only the king and his son had swords. 

“And the son thought that he would spy out 
the enemy’s garrison, and maybe he could find 
out how to fight them. So he took one young 
man and went over. He believed that God 
would help him, and that he did not need a 
great army. 


Guessing at Heroes. 83 

“Then they stood where the sentries conld see 
them, and the enemy thought they were coming 
out from the caves where they had been hiding, 
and called to them, ‘Come up and we will show 
you something!’ 

“And my hero took that as a sign from God, 
and said to his companion, ‘Come after me, for 
the Lord hath delivered the enemy into our 
hands.’ And they climbed up the steep rock 
and killed twenty men, and that scared all the 
others, and God helped them by sending an 
earthquake, too. Now, his father didn’t know 
that he had gone, and instead of being glad that 
the enemy were beaten, he got mad, and said he 
would put whoever did it to death, hut the peo- 
ple wouldn’t let him. 

“My hero did other brave and beautiful 
things, and was one of the most unselfish 
friends that ever lived ; but I can’t tell you any 
more, because you will guess too easily.” 

Mamma’s hand was up, and Will said, 


84: Guessing at Heroes. 

“Seems to me that I ought to know who that 
is.” 

Jack said, “Well, I b’lieve it was David.” 

“No! no!” said Will, “David didn’t do that.” 

Nellie was afraid to guess, and Grandma 
said, “Well! let the honorary member tell us, 
and then she can give us a hero next time.” 

“No,” replied Mrs. Allen. “I will tell you 
this much about Hugh’s hero — that I think 
made his friendship so wonderful. He really 
seemed to love his friend’s honor more than his 
own, and was willing for him to he king in his 
place.” 

Jack and Will and Nellie all clapped their 
hands and called out, “Jonathan! Jonathan! 
Jonathan !” 

“Yes,” said Hugh, “but Mamma made it 
easier for you all.” 

“I will give my turn to Artie,” said Mrs. 
Allan, “and now I must go to have supper 
brought in.” 


Guessing at Heroes. 85 

Then Grandma opened the table drawer and 
showed the pop-corn and a bundle, and said, 
“After supper we will see who can guess what 
is in my bundle. The first one who guesses 
right shall pop the first corn.” 


CHAPTER IV. 


ARTIE S HERO. 


OIJ will remember that after Hugh’s hero 



had been guessed by Mrs. Allan, she said 
that she would help Artie to get a hero for the 
next time, instead of giving one herself. You 
will also remember that just before they went 
to supper Grandma had shown them some ears 
of pop-corn, and a bundle, and had said that, 
after supper, whoever guessed first what was in 
her bundle should pop the first corn in the new 
parcher. 

Well, when they finished supper, it was as 
good as a game of “Observation,” the way they 
started at that bundle. Grandma wouldn’t let 
anybody feel it. 

“Well, Gramma, can’t we smell it, then?” 

“Ho, indeed! I think you would guess it 
right away, then.” 


Guessing at Heroes. 87 

At last Nellie, who had been very quiet, clap- 
ped her hands and called out, “Brown sugar! 
brown sugar !” 

“Right !” said Grandma, “hut how did you 
happen to guess it V ’ 

“I saw a little grain of sugar on the table, 
and it wasn’t white.” 

And so Nellie had the pleasure of parching 
“the first turn,” and the sugar was opened out 
and the corn rolled in it, and the children found 
it very nice. 

The next T riday evening was stormy, but that 
did not keep the Barkers away. Nobody wanted 
to miss Artie’s hero. 

“It is just the kind of evenin’ to have some- 
thin’ particular to do, ain’t it, Grandma ?” 
asked Jack. 

“Yes, and how nice to have a cheery fire to . 
sit by in a happy home, children.” 

“Yesh, an’ a Gramma w’ats so nishe, too,” 
added Artie, as he cuddled up to Grandma, 


88 Guessing at Heroes. 

while they waited for Mamma to come, for he 
was not willing to begin without her. 

At last Mrs. Allan was ready, and when she 
entered the door there was Mr. Allan just be- 
hind her, and all the children stood by and 
clapped their hands. 

“Howd’ye do, Mr. Honorable Member/ 7 cried 
J ack with a low how. 

Artie’s bright face hushed and he looked a 
little scared, for he was not quite so well ac- 
quainted with his papa as Jack was ; he had not 
known him so long ! 

However, Mamma whispered to him, and he 
ran up to his papa and held his mouth up to kiss 
him and said, “We glad to shee you Mitter Hon- 
awawy,” and then he handed Mr. Allan a chair. 

Grandma rapped on the table and said, “How, 
little man, we want your hero,” and Artie stood 
up near his mother, and after he had put his 
hands in his pocket awhile, he began. 

“My hewo was a l — ittle bit a baby boy 


Guessing at Heroes. 89 

vonce, en ’is mamma ver scared ’bout ’im, an — 
an, oh ! ’ee ver born in a far away country, vere 
’is papa ’ad to work very ’ard, an’ dey didn’ 
love to live dere one single bit, but dey ’ad to, 
’cause Dod vanted to make dem very sorry for 
bein’ naughty. An’ one day de ole, bad king, got 
mad ’cause der ver so many little chillen an’ 
’ee said, ‘Dere’s too many ’ittle boys; one day 
dey’ 11 be tighten’ me, an’ take all my country.’ 
An’ ’ee wanted to kill all de babies, an’ ’ee mam- 
ma, I mean my hewo’s mamma, didn’ vant to 
hab ’er ’ittle baby kilted, too, en’ ’ee dis begged 
Dod to tell her how to fix it. An’ Dod tole her, 
‘Make a ‘ittle backet (basket) and ’ide you’ ’ittle 
boy dere. An’ ’er made it in a huwy (hurry) I 
tell you ! 

“Den a putty lady corned dere, an’ ’er said, 
‘Oh! vat a putty baby! I b’lieve I’ll take it 
home for myself.’ An’ one day my hewo gyew 
up a gveat hig man — an’ ’ee fought all dose had 
peoples an’ took millions an’ millions back to 


90 Guessing at Heroes. 

dere old land. But ’ee got mad one day, an’ 
Dod tole ’im ’ee couldn’t go all de way, ’an so 
’ee died, an’ a beautiful angel corned an’ burvied 
’im. An’ — oh ! — ’ee did bwing all de com- 
mandments down, so we could learn ’em. An’ 
dat’s all ’bout my bewo.” 

Of course, everybody had guessed Artie’s hero 
very soon after he began, but he was too excited 
to see the hands, and Grandma put her finger 
to her lips, for them to be silent, and Mamma 
shook her head when they began to laugh, for 
they both thought the little boy showed that he 
knew a good deal about Moses. 

As soon as he finished Jack and Nit a both 
called out, a Moses! Moses!” and Grandma 
frowned and said, “Why, yes, it must be 
Moses,” and Artie answered in a very proud 
and confident tone, “Yesh, my hewo is Moshes. 
I like ’im de best of all, ’cause he was de pa- 
tientest one.” 

“I think that both Jack and Nita will have 


Guessing at Heroes. 91 

to give heroes next time, as they both gave the 
name,” said Grandma. 

“Yes,” said Jack, “an’ we can make ’em 
short.” 

Everybody langhed, for it sounded funny, but 
they all knew that it was the stories, and not 
the heroes that J ack wanted short. 

Just then Mr. Allan glanced down at his coat 
pockets, and the children looked too, and dis- 
covered that they were stuffed with something. 
They made a rush at them, and found that they 
were full of caramels, and the rest of the even- 
ing they were busy picking papa’s pockets. 


CHAPTER V. 


jack's hero and nita's. 

TACK was more interested in finding a hero 
^ than people gave him credit for. 

On Sunday afternoon, instead of finishing 
his Sunday-school library hook, or going out to 
see after his chickens, he was cuddled up close 
to his papa’s side in the sitting-room, with a 
large Bible open before him. 

“Now, do, Papa, help me find somebody that 
will be hard for them to guess ; I’d like to puz- 
zle even Gramma.” 

“Well, my hoy, you can’t do that, for Grand- 
ma knows more about Bible characters than all 
the rest of us put together.” 

Nita had gone to “Aun’ Bella” for help, and 
came out from Mrs. Allan’s room with a very 
smiling face, when Artie called her to come 
and look at pictures in Grandma’s room. 


Guessing at Heroes. 93 

When Friday evening came everybody was 
on hand promptly, for everybody was curious 
about Jack’s hero, and Hita’s, too. 

“ISTita, you begin,” said Jack, when they were 
all seated; for even Grandma and the other 
children seemed a crowd when they were all 
seated around the fire. 

“Ho, Jack, you are older than Hita,” said 
Grandma firmly, “and she has never tried to 
give a hero before.” 

“Welkin,” said Jack, blushing very red, and 
running his hands deep down into his pockets, 
and holding a marble in each hand for comfort. 

“My hero was very brave, I think. He was 
a captive in a country far from his home, and 
waited on the king ; but he loved his own people 
very much, and when somebody came and told 
him that the people at home were very poor and 
that the walls of the city were all broken down, 
it distressed him so much that he cried and 
cried, but he prayed to God, and he put it into 


94 Guessing at Heroes. 

his heart what to do. When he went to wait 
on the king he looked very sad, and the king 
said, ‘What’s the matter-? What makes you 
look so sad?’ Then he was scared, because in 
those days kings could have a man’s head cut 
off in a minute; hut he just prayed to God for 
courage, and then he told the king what the mat- 
ter was, and the king was sorry for him, and 
told him that he could go to his country to help 
the poor people, and to mend the walls ; and he 
went, and showed what a smart young man he 
was, and brave, too; hut after awhile, though 
he loved his country and his people, he went 
hack to his king, and didn’t go hack to his coun- 
try for a long time, and that’s all now. Can 
you guess his name?” 

Grandma’s hand was up, and she said, “Yes, 
your hero was a noble fellow, and very brave, 
when he asked the king to let him go to help his 
people ; hut he was quite as brave when he told 
the people how wicked they were to break the 


Guessing at Heroes. 95 

Sabbath and to marry heathen wives. Nehe- 
miah was a true hero, I think.” 

“Yes, it was Nehemiah,” said Jack. 

“Now, Nita, let ns have yonrs.” 

Nita was very much frightened when she be- 
gan, but she stood close to Grandma, and that 
seemed to give her courage. 

“My hero’s father was an old man when he 
was born, and he loved this boy more than he 
loved his other sons. I believe he was the best 
and the prettiest. That made his brothers mad, 
and one day when he went far off from home to 
see how they were getting on with their flocks, 
wdiy, his bad old brothers just took him and put 
him in a great deep well, and then afterwards 
they sold him to some people going far away — 
an’ — one day he made his brothers feel so 
’shamed ’cause he was kind to them when they 
were poor, and didn’t have enough to eat, an’ he 
was rich.” 

All the children were holding up their hands ; 


96 Guessing at Heroes. 

of course, they had easily guessed Hita’s hero, 
and she was really glad to stop, as she could not 
remember any more just now. 

“It will be Gramma’s time next,” said Hugh. 

“Oh ! Gramma, don’t make yours too hard !” 

“Well, dears, I’m going to try my best to 
puzzle you. But — what is that, I wonder,” 
added Grandma, looking so surprised and point- 
ing to a large, bright yellow bag, hung up by a 
red ribbon ! 

Everybody started up. 

“Bring it here, Hugh,” she said, and Hugh 
dumped it down at Grandma’s feet. 

All the time Artie was kissing Grandma’s 
hand, and saying, “Gramma, you are the nicest 
Gramma I ever saw!” He was certain that 
Grandma had fixed the bag ! 

When she pulled the string, out rolled apples 
and oranges and goobers. 

“How, children, scramble for them,” she said, 
laughing, and what a frolic they had, until Mrs. 


Guessing at Heroes. 97 

Allan came in with a lamp in her hand, and 
said, “Good-night, everybody, if yon mnst go !” 

Of course, the children took the hint, and in 
a few moments dear old Grandma was asleep, 
and she must have been smiling in her sleep, for 
she had made the children’s hearts so very 
happy! 


CHAPTER VI. 


GRAXDMA^S hero. 


F COURSE somebody was interested and 



excited about Grandma’s hero, because, 
as Jack said, “Gramma’s so ’s’prisin’,” which, 
being interpreted, meant that Grandma had so 
many surprises for them! 

Grandma looked over her spectacles at the 
children at the dinner-table, and said, “Well, 
children, with the aid of my valuable old friend, 
Mr. Henry’s commentary, I think I can make 
quite an interesting story of my hero this even- 


ing. 


“Who’s Mr. Henry Commentary ?” asked 
Jack, with a look of astonishment. 

“Vat a funny name! ha! ha!” added poor 
little Artie, who was not old enough to have even 
heard of Mr. Henry and his wonderful com- 
mentaries on the Bible. 


99 


Guessing at Heroes. 

“Why, Jack!’ 7 said Hugh, “did you really 
think that there was a man named Commen- 
tary ?” 

Then. J ack snickered, and said he didn’t know 
who Grandma was talking about at first ! And 
nobody knew whether he found out afterwards 
or not. 

When sunset came, Artie ran to Grandma’s 
room and said, “Oh ! Gramma, come ! come 
kick! (quick) there’s the beautifulest sunset — 
seems like — seems like Friday evenin’ is al- 
ways de pittiest,” which Grandma took as a 
high compliment to her Guess Club evening, 
and deserving of two or three kisses. 

Of course she went out with Artie, and tried 
to make her dear little pet feel that this was 
one of God’s ways of showing his love to us. 

It was too cool to stay long, besides that, 
Grandma had begged for early supper, so that 
the honorary members could be with the club 
this evening. 


100 Guessing at Heroes. 

At last supper was over, and tlie children are 
gathered in Grandma’s room. 

“How, if Papa gets to reading his paper he 
will forget to come/’ said Hugh. 

“Suppose two of you go and offer to escort 
him here,” suggested Grandma. Whereupon 
everybody wanted to go. 

“Ho ! no ! that is not the proper way,” said 
Grandma.” I will choose Hellie and Hita, and 
now, dears, go to him and kneel down before 
him and say, ‘Most honorable sir, will your 
honor he pleased to come to the Guess Club, 
where the members anxiously await your com- 
ing.’ Then offer your arms to escort him.” 

Everybody laughed and thought that would 
be very funny. Hellie and Hita were rather 
scared at first, but entered into the fun of it, 
and after repeating the sentence over several 
times to Grandma, went off, and presently 
came back with Papa Allan between them, look- 
ing very funny and “puttin’ on airs,” as Jack 
said. 


Guessing at Heroes. 101 

Then Mamma came in, looking very mysteri- 
ous, and Grandma began : 

“My hero had a short name, and it seems a 
strange name to give a child, in a country where 
names always meant something. We do not 
know the name of either his father or mother, 
and we know very little about him, hut what 
we do know is very interesting. Think of a 
man being remembered thousands of years just 
for two things! First, because he was more 
honorable than his brethren, though we are not 
told why it was so; and, second, because he 
prayed to God for several things that he wanted, 
and God gave him everything that he asked for ! 
And so he is a pattern to us of how we should 
‘come boldly to the throne of grace.’ 

“I imagine that he was a bright-eyed, happy- 
hearted hoy, who learned obedience when he was 
a child; and learned to fear God and to trust 
him as a prayer-hearing God ; and to desire to 
he honorable. I think that, when he grew up 


102 Guessing at Heroes. 

so earnest and faithful, people loved him and 
respected him, and then there came a time when 
he must have been in danger. Maybe he had 
enemies that were trying to destroy his property 
and kill him; or, maybe he wanted to succeed 
better in his business, so that he could help 
others, and be kept from evil. You remember 
the Lord teaches us to pray, ‘Deliver us from 
evil.’ Whatever was the matter, my hero asked 
God for what he wanted, and God heard and 
granted his request. After telling us that about 
him, he just passes out of Bible history, leaving 
behind him only the fragrance of a good name.” 

The children were all puzzled, and Mamma 
was looking into the fire with a very perplexed 
look on her face. 

Mr. Allan was looking very hard right into 
Grandma’s face, when he jumped up and seized 
Grandma’s Bible and turned to the index of 
proper names in the back, and in a minute or 
two, he laid down the Bible, and clapped his 
hands ! 


Guessing at Heroes. 103 

Grandma rapped on the table, and said, 
“Order ! order !” and Papa remembered, and 
looking very solemn, held up his band, and 
said, “He belonged to the tribe of Judah, and 
there was a city named for him, wasn’t there ?” 

“Yes ! yes !” said Grandma, “Pm afraid you 
have guessed.” 

As soon as Mr. Allan gave the name, Mam- 
ma left the room. 

The children couldn’t help glancing towards 
the screen, because so often there was something 
behind it for them, and Grandma noticed it and 
smiled, but did not say anything. Presently, 
there was a curious kind of knocking on the 
door. 

“Somebody is knocking with a knee instead 
of a hand,” said Grandma, and while everybody 
was laughing at the new way to knock, Papa 
said it was a icnee way , he thought, which 
Grandma declared was a very dreadful pun. 

Artie had opened the door, and there stood 


104 Guessing at Heroes. 

Mrs. Allan with a waiter full of dishes and 
plates. 'No wonder she had to use her knee to 
knock with! 

“Hugh, set this down, please/ 7 she said, and 
was gone again, but soon came hack with a 
kettle. 

“Candy pulling ! candy pulling !” was the joy- 
ful exclamation, while everybody clapped 
hands. 

Sure enough, this was Mamma’s treat, and 
w T hat a grand time they had! 

“Remember, you must give us a hero next 
Friday/ 7 said Grandma to Mr. Allan, as he left 
“the racket 77 to finish his newspaper. 

“Welkin, I 7 11 try/ 7 he said, just like the chil- 
dren would answer. 

When the clock struck nine, Mamma said, 
“Good-night, children ! 77 and after Grandma 
had a kiss from each of the Guess Club, another 
happy meeting was over. 


CHAPTER VII. 


PAPA S HERO. 


HE children were all ready for the Guess 



Club the next Eriday evening. They 
seemed to think that Papa’s evening would he 
an occasion of more importance than even 
Grandma’s, or Mamma’s, and so begged to be 
allowed to go to the woods after school, to get 
autumn leaves to decorate Grandma’s room. 

“Papa is an honorary, you know, Mamma, 
and we have to do something extra for him.” 

“Yes,” Mamma said, laughing, “and I won- 
der how you will treat the other honorary.” 

“You’ll see! you’ll see! maybe your turn 
will come next.” 

About four o’clock the children hurst into the 
sitting-room, where Grandma and Mamma were 
at work. 


106 Guessing at Heroes. 

“I think the maple trees have all come to 
town,” exclaimed Grandma, holding up her 
hands, for every one of them had large boughs 
of brilliantly colored maple, and a gorgeous 
sight it was ! 

“Grandma, let us decorate the room by our- 
selves, before you go in ; we will be very careful 
not to hurt anything, or make a mess,” said 
Hugh, who knew what an old maid Grandma 
was about her room. 

“Well,” answered Grandma, trying to look 
very doleful, yet with a merry twinkle in her 
eye, “I suppose I’ll have to submit, as you are 
six to one.” 

And so the children took possession of Grand- 
ma’s room. 

They put up two large crimson branches be- 
hind her pretty brass bedstead, and pinned clus- 
ters of leaves on the curtains and on the screen, 
and small branches behind the pictures. Then 
they borrowed the umbrella stand, and filled 


Guessing at Heroes . 107 

that with a beautiful branch, and set it in the 
corner, and when Mrs. Allan peeped in to see 
how they were getting on, she was surprised to 
see how much taste they had shown, and, as she 
believed in praising people, she told them so. 

“Now, let’s call Grandma,” they said, so Ar- 
tie was sent on the errand. 

“Come, Grandma, come kick ! It’s dus 
lovely. It’s de pitties’ place you ever did see.” 

Of course, Grandma was delighted and sur- 
prised, because most of them were boys. 

Then she turned them all out, locked the 
door and opened a drawer in that wonderful 
bureau of hers that had held so many good 
things for the children. She took out three 
large paper bags and emptied their contents on 
the bed, then she found some small bags and 
filled them with candy, and some more with 
nuts and tied them around the top with strings. 
Then she took apples and oranges and bananas 
and the candy and nuts, and hid them under 


108 Guessing at Heroes. 

pillows and the bed, and behind the bureau, and 
under the hook-case, and even in the bottom of 
the scrap basket. 

At last she sat down and said, “Now!” in a 
very satisfied tone, and smiled at everything, 
for she knew how much fun she had hidden 
away for six happy children to find. 

They were at the supper-table when Will and 
Nellie came over, and in a little while the Guess 
Club met. 

“You will have to call your honorary, or 
he will forget to come, I’m afraid,” said 
Grandma. 

“Oh ! Gramma, pease sen’ me dis time,” beg- 
ged Artie. 

“Well, what will you say?” 

“Artie don’t know what to say,” said Jack, 
“he’ll just go an’ say, Tapa, turn on to de Dess 
Crub.’ ” 

Artie’s eyes flashed, and he replied in an in- 
dignant tone, “Yesh, I do know. I say, ‘Mitter 


Guessing at Heroes. 109 

Honowawy, de Guess Crub glad to have you 
come wight now in a huwy.’ Now, Gramma 
ain’t dat somefin’ sides, ‘Papa, turn to de Dess 
Crub’ »” 

Grandma thought it was very nice, and told, 
him so, with a kiss, and he ran off. 

When he was gone, Grandma said, “ J ack, I 
don’t think that I would, tease my dear little 
brother that way, if I had one. He tries so hard 
to he a big boy, and to talk plainly.” 

Just, then here came Artie, looking very im- 
portant, and leading Mr. Allan, who pretended 
to be badly scared. He sat down and began 
right away. 

“My hero never was in a war, nor was he a 
king, nor a rich man, and yet I think he was a 
true hero. His home was in a heathen town, 
and his father was not a Jew, and was probably 
a merchant ; but he was blessed, like some other 
boys that I know, with a Grandmother, and 
Mother, who were Christians, and he inherited 


110 Guessing at Heroes. 

their faith; and, though he was quite a boy 
when we first hear about him, he was so useful 
as a Christian that the greatest preacher and 
letter-writer that ever lived, loved him and 
wanted him to go on his missions with him. 

“From what we read in his master’s letters 
to him, we think he was naturally very timid ; 
but that is often the kind of boy that God’s grace 
converts into a grand hero. 

“We know that he lived to teach and preach 
Christ in a large and wicked city, and that it 
was while he was there that his master wrote 
him two splendid letters, that have much good 
advice in them; we know, too, that when his 
beloved master was in prison in another great 
city, he took a long and dangerous journey to go 
to him, that he might cheer him, and last of all, 
we think that God gave him courage to die as a 
martyr for the faith he professed.” 

Mamma’s hand was up. “I think one of the 
best things that is told us about your hero was 


Guessing at Hei'oes. Ill 

what his master wrote him, ‘That from a child 
thou hast known the holy Scriptures.’ ” 

Grandma’s hand, and Hugh’s, too, were up 
now, and so Mr. Allan called out, “His name, 
then ! his name !” 

“Timothy!” they all said at once. 

“Yes, it was Timothy, and I hope you agree 
with me that he was a hero !” 

Everybody said, “Yes,” and then Hugh re- 
minded his father that he had never told the 
name of Grandma’s hero, and they wanted to 
know it. 

“Well! well! why, Jabez! — and all we know 
about him is found in 1 Chronicles iv. 9-10.” 

Artie was beginning to look sleepy, and 
Grandma said, “How, let’s all see if we can find 
anything besides autumn leaves in this room. 
As she said it, she gave a little kick against the 
bureau with her foot, and out rolled an orange 
right against Artie’s foot ! Then every one took 
Grandma’s hint, and such a search party as they 


112 Guessing at Heroes . 

were ! and such a racket as they made ! It was 
a good excuse for Mr. Allan to run away, and 
get hack to his beloved paper, but the children 
frolicked on until bed-time. 









